Q: How likely is Barack Obama to be a successful president?

"With the economy in such dire straits and [with] such high expectations, I expect Obama to be able to accomplish more through the Congress than most recent presidents. Most leaders want and need him to succeed right now. His very early start gives him a great head of steam."

"If the standard is George W. Bush, then success is a no-brainer."

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"He has the two things that are critical for success: inner peace and intellectual curiosity. Bush had the former but not the latter. The country wants [Obama] to succeed. And as long as he keeps reaching out to them, they will give him every possible chance."

"The bar is so low [that] success will be easy to define."

"The times and the man--the right combination."

"Although everything, including his ultimate legacy, will depend on whether his vision and agenda are and remain his own. Right now, on first appearance, they sadly seem to be too much 'Clinton redux.' "

"Only because he starts off with so much goodwill."

Somewhat likely

"If the economy rises, he could be the next FDR. If it doesn't, he'll have trouble."

"But he inherits some real messes. And I'm not sure anyone can come out smelling like a rose after walking through a stink garden like he will."

"There are too many imponderables to go further than this, particularly a daunting economic situation. How many post-1960 presidencies have been successful? Probably only Reagan truly meets the standard. And that's one out of nine."

"He's done everything right, has what it takes, and has assembled the best team possible, but politics is an arena where rational planning, experience, and talent don't always add up to winning."

"His predecessor was such a disaster, he has to look good by comparison. But the times demand real leadership, not just eloquent speeches."

Somewhat unlikely

"May not be able to deliver, ultimately, what the American people want. How long will American patience last?"

Q: How likely is Barack Obama to be a successful president?

"Fair or not, Bush owns the war and the recession. Obama has a ton of room to operate. Best setup since Carter to Reagan."

"The media will carve his legacy for him in marble."

Somewhat likely

"There's really no track record to give confidence, other than a superb campaign and a pretty good set of nominations. But those count for something, and give one a gut feel that he has the talent and team to succeed."

"After Bush, it won't be hard. Plus, the media will give him a free ride no matter what he does."

"Steps into office with the country [facing] historical challenges. If he can tackle those challenges, he will be looked at as more successful. But how patient will people be?"

"His formidable political skills ensure that even the most mediocre set of accomplishments will be presented in an incredibly favorable light."

"His instincts have been great so far, but we'll see whether he can hold to his bipartisan course when push comes to shove."

"History is posing a big upside and a big downside: Can he be decisive and not get mired in coalition-dominated Democratic politics?"

"This feels like Clinton in January of 1993: fawning press coverage, fame, glitz. But the media is fickle, and the honeymoon won't last forever. Obama is good, but there are lots of challenges ahead and a fragile coalition on the Hill."

"In the aftermath of 9/11, conventional wisdom was that Bush would be a successful president. A lot can change in four or eight years."

Somewhat unlikely

"The temptations of hubris and power are too great for the Democrats to resist."

"He's doing all the right things, but the scope of the country's economic problems are so great it's hard to see how he avoids getting buried."

"History could improve his performance if Iraq and the Middle East turn out positive in regards to the start of democracy."

"Only his counter-terrorism success in this country staves off the worst potential assessment."

Terrible

"We are in a mess that will take years to repair. And voters know that."

"This guy has become the Franklin Pierce of the modern era. W.'s whole history-will-judge-me mantra is the mark of a president who has worsened almost everything he touched."

"War, Katrina, erosion of civil liberties aside, he deserves the worst grades for abdicating his responsibility to cast politics aside and deal boldly with the economic crisis, whether he is responsible for creating it or not. For this, he should swim in history at the bottom of the pool with Mr. Hoover."

"From record surplus to record debt, most-liked nation after 9/11 to most-hated, prosperity to meltdown and recession, [he's the] biggest blot on American history."

"I never dreamed I would live to see a president far worse than Nixon."

"His accomplishments will require the lens of history to see clearly: stabilizing the economy post-9/11, preventing any further such attacks on his watch, and making historical investments in poverty- and AIDS-stricken Africa."

"We haven't suffered a terrorist attack on U.S. soil since 9/11. Shouldn't that count for something?"

Fair

"He has a number of accomplishments for which history will judge him well. But he bet the entire Republican farm on Iraq--and lost the bet."

"He kept our country safe, and just about screwed up everything else."

Poor

"He has done more to damage the cause of limited government than any president in a generation."

"The Bush administration will long be remembered for its mismanagement, missed opportunities, and arrogance."

Terrible

"Never ready to be president. No way for the Bushies to rewrite history."